Are you Prioritizing Correctly?

One of the most common time management concepts is to make a list of all your tasks and prioritize them. Sounds great, right? Until you run into the problem of HOW to prioritize. Prioritizing is the act of assigning a VALUE to your tasks. Here are 5 strategies to help you determine task value and priorities:

Use your emotions: This is what we call “Emotional Organizing.” We use how we feel about certain tasks to value their priority. Is there a particular task that is causing you great angst because it isn’t done? That task becomes your first priority. Is there a task that you despise doing? Delegate it so you can remove it from your “To-do” list completely.

Use a Number or Alphabet Coding System: Assign a number or letter to each task. Determine the task value and assign it an appropriate letter or number. For example, 1/A is top priority and 4/D is lowest.

Due Date: Determine when tasks need to be completed. Then prioritize the tasks according to their due date, making the responsibilities due sooner of higher priority.

The Priority Matrix: This handy diagram helps us to value our tasks based on two major characteristics: Effort and Impact. Determine where your tasks fit into the matrix. The tasks in the box with the highest impact and lowest effort should be tackled first.

Click here to learn more about the Action Priority Grid.

“Eat that Frog” or “The Snowball” Concept: “Eat that Frog” uses “motivational organizing” to value your tasks. What task seems the most daunting, but would give the most satisfaction if it were completed? That task becomes your top priority. In theory, jumping this major hurdle will motivate you to move through your “To-do” list instead of getting stuck on one difficult thing. On the flip side, you may find yourself more motivated if you accomplish a few smaller tasks on your list. This can create a motivational snowball to keep you going through even the harder tasks.

You may find that, depending on the day or the tasks at hand, you use different strategies. The important thing is to keep working the strategies so that you can be as productive and efficient as possible. Here’s to a completed “To-do” list and a productive day!